A "decoy" pedestrian will be used. Officers will issue traffic citations to motorists who fail to yield to pedestrians lawfully crossing the street.

"From 1998-2000, we had 411 serious-injury and fatal pedestrian traffic collisions in the San Fernando Valley. Many of these occurred when pedestrians were legally crossing the street, but were hit by motorists who were speeding or not paying attention to the right of way," said Captain Greg Meyer, Valley Traffic Division commanding officer. "Conducting these types of task forces is one way of bringing the problem to the public attention, and hopefully reducing these tragedies. Everybody’s in a hurry, dot-com. People need to drive and walk safely, and not let these tragedies happen to themselves and their loved ones."

The pedestrian-safety enforcement task force is part of a continuing series of efforts to reduce traffic deaths and injuries in the San Fernando Valley.